The cadets come from all parts of the
country, from all ranks of the social scale. Amalgamated
by the uniform course of studies and the similarity of
discipline, the separating fragments at the end of the
student life carry similar qualities into the life
before them, and step with almost remarkable social
equality into the world where they must find their
level. It would be expecting too much to hope that the
companionship which surmounts or breaks down all the
barriers of caste, should tread with equal heel the
prejudices of color. But it would be more manly in
these boys, if they would remember how easy ordinary
courtesy would be to them, how much it would lighten
the life of a young man whose rights are equal to
their own. It is useless to ignore the inevitable.
This colored boy has his place; he should have fair,
encouragement to hold it. Heaping neglect upon him
does not overcome the principle involved in his
appointment, and while we by no means approve of
such appointments we do believe in common justice."
On the other hand, many have desired this information
for a practical use, and that, too, whether they were
prejudiced or not. That is, if friends, they were
anxious to know how I fared, whether or not I was to
be a success, and if a success to use that fact in
the interest of the people; and if enemies, they
wanted naturally to know the same things in order to
use the knowledge to the injury of the people if I
proved a failure.
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